NEW YORK, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TB Alliance, a not-for-profit with the mission of discovering and developing better, faster and affordable treatments, announced the appointment of Willo Brock as Senior Vice President, External Affairs. Mr. Brock comes to TB Alliance having most recently served as Head of Major Donor Relations for WWF International (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund). In his role, Mr. Brock will guide the TB Alliance's resource development, advocacy and policy, and community and stakeholder engagement strategies, which are focused on building global support for the development of promising new treatments to fight tuberculosis (TB).

"Never before has there been greater urgency to mobilize the resources to ensure new TB treatments in the pipeline can complete their development and reach those in need," said Mel Spigelman, President and CEO of the TB Alliance. "Willo Brock has extensive experience in bringing together partners to solve the world's most intractable problems. We welcome his skills and expertise to our team."

Mr. Brock comes to the TB Alliance with nearly 20 years of experience in international development, and has worked in more than 60 countries around the world. At WWF International, he led major donor relations for the US$100 million Campaign for a Living Planet, the organization's largest fundraising initiative. Prior to that, he was Director of Resource Development and Communications for Habitat for Humanity International. Mr. Brock started his career working for the Netherlands Ministry of Development in Pakistan.

"The work done by TB Alliance and its partners has the potential to save millions of lives, with a number of vitally important TB treatments that are very close to the finish line," said Willo Brock. "This is an opportunity to have an immediate impact on the lives of people in resource-poor nations."

Mr. Brock is a native of The Netherlands and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Rotterdam School of Business at Erasmus University.

Every year, 1.3 million people worldwide die from TB. It is estimated that the bacteria that causes TB infects one-third of the world's population. The current treatment is inadequate, and resistance to today's drugs is growing. New, faster-acting, simpler drug regimens are critical to defeating TB.

About the TB Alliance

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight tuberculosis. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. The TB Alliance operates with funding from Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, European Commission, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Irish Aid, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, UNITAID, United Kingdom Department for International Development, United States Agency for International Development, and the United States Food and Drug Administration. For more information, please visit tballiance.org.